Craving for some intense playoff action? Well tonight’s your lucky night as the NBA and the NHL has lined up a pair of mouth-watering games that will definitely whet your sporting appetite. Opening festivities later this evening is the pivotal Game 2 clash between the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors.
Then, over at the NHL, it’s Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues. Which teams will grab the all-important victories tonight? Read on below for a quick breakdown of these two critical matchups and while you’re at it, you can check out our Game 4 preview of San Jose vs. Nashville.
The Miami Heat drew first blood in their much-anticipated best-of-seven series with the Toronto Raptors, posting a dramatic 102-96 overtime victory in Game 1 Tuesday night. Five players scored in double-figures for the Heat who survived Kyle Lowry’s miraculous half-court heave at the end of regulation.
With the loss, Toronto dropped to 3-8 against Miami at Air Canada Centre over the last five seasons. For the Raptors to reverse that trend and grab the all-important equalizer in Game 2, they will need DeMar DeRozan and Lowry to step up their play tonight. They struggled mightily in Game 1, combining for just 29 points on 12-of-35 shooting from the field. DeRozan and Lowry are averaging 18.4 and 13.0 points per game respectively, for the Raptors this postseason.
The Raptors are 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five games against the Heat. They are pegged at +6,600to win the NBA championship this year.
Writer’s Prediction
Toronto (-4.5) levels the series with a 94-89 win.
The St. Louis Blues grabbed a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series with the Dallas Stars after an emphatic 6-1 win in Game 3 on Tuesday night. Alexander Steen and David Backes had two goals apiece for the Blues who recorded their first lopsided victory of this postseason.
It’s back to the drawing board for the Stars who need to find a way to stop St. Louis hotshot Vladimir Tarasenko. He went berserk in Game 3, notching a goal and two assists for his second three-point game in this year’s playoffs. Tarasenko now has 15 goals in 23 career playoff games.
The onus then is on Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi to stabilize the goaltending for the Stars. The two goalies made appearances in Game 3 and both gave up three goals. Niemi started and got pulled after conceding three goals on 12 shots. Lehtonen played the final 37 minutes on Tuesday and made 24 saves.
The Blues are 4-0 in their last four home games against the Stars. They are priced at +325to win the Stanley Cup this year.
Click here for an in-depth breakdown of this game.
Writer’s Prediction
St. Louis (-145) wins, 4-2, to go 3-1 up in the series.
